Welcome to ACE

The Autism Center of Excellence (ACE) and Healthy Infant Development Laboratory is dedicated to discovering the causes of autism and paving the way for more effective autism treatment. We focus on research to help identify what autism looks like in babies as young as 12 months. Read More

Concerned Your Child Has Autism?

A recent CDC report (2014) notes that 1 in 68 children born each year will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Are you concerned your child might be one of them?

News & Events

Eye Gaze Patterns as Biomarkers

A recent study by Karen Pierce and colleagues shows eye gaze patterns might be a powerful biomarker of a subype of ASD.Read more

Erik Weber Passes Bar Exam

Congratulations to law school graduate and ACE participant Erik Weber, the first person with autism to pass the state bar exam.Read more

Brain Imaging Explains Reasons for Good and Poor Language Outcomes in ASD Toddlers

Using functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI), UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers say it may be possible to predict future language development outcomes in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), even before they've been formally diagnosed with the condition. The findings are published in the April 9 online issue of the journal Neuron.

Gene expression study demonstrates biomarkers with good sensitivity and specificity for boys with ASD can be identified in pediatric settings. Paper published in JAMA Psychiatry on March 4, 2015.

ACE Awarded NIMH Services Grant

We are one of five programs selected to receive funding from a highly competitive call from the NIMH for an early screening program for developmental delays. In this program, we follow a 3-stage model, the Get SET (Screen, Evaluate, Treat) Early model. Read more

ACE brain study shows that autism begins during pregnancy. Paper was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 27, 2014.